Course Details

Cost

FREE

Upcoming Schedule

On demand

Course Provider

MIT online courses

MIT OpenCourseWare makes the materials used in the teaching of almost all of
MIT's subjects available on the Web, free of charge. With more than 2,200
courses available, OCW is delivering on the promise of open sharing of
knowledge.

MIT OpenCourseWare makes the materials used in the teaching of almost all of
MIT's subjects available on the Web, free of charge. With more than 2,200
courses available, OCW is delivering on the promise of open sharing of
knowledge.

Course Description

This course is an introduction to selected musical traditions of West Africa. A variety of musical practices and their cultural contexts will be explored through listening, reading, and written assignments, with an emphasis on class discussion. The course includes in-class instruction in West African drumming, song and dance, as well as lecture-demonstrations by guest artists.

After an introductory unit, the course will be organized around four main geographical areas: Senegal, Mali, Ghana, and Nigeria. An in-depth study of music from these countries will be interspersed with brief overviews of Southern, Central, and East Africa.